Snap Judgment

An ecologist in Maine fears she will be criticized because she "communicates with animals." Then a tiny, collared Dove told her he could read her mind. And – a man in Alaska hears a rumor about the elusive blue bear. He never gave it much thought until a friend convinced him to search for one. We're wrapping up the FEVER series this week! Tune in.  STORIES When Doves Cry An ecologist in Maine fear...

From puppy love to stolen moments to the thrill of the chase... their relationship made headlines. A huge thank you to Toby Dorr for sharing her story with Snap! Toby is an author, speaker and criminal justice reform advocate. She’s also the founder of the Fierce Grace Movement , a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting women impacted by incarceration  through storytelling and mentorship. ...

Could you choose a lover for the love of your life? Our Fever Series continues with more stories from the heart -- of the heart. STORIES  Loves Actually A Colorado couple explore uncharted territory when their idyllic marriage gets hit with a curve ball. Thank you to Mil and Jan Markle for sitting down with Snap, opening up your hearts and sharing your story! Produced by Regina Bediako, edited by...

Your eyes may deceive you, your ears can betray you, but when it comes to love the nose knows. Plus - a reflection on life’s sliding doors and how we can never truly know all the versions of the people we love.  This week on Snap, we kick off our FEVER series! Four weeks full of love stories that are not your typical romances... We love you Snap Nation! Catch the Fever. STORIES Smell Ya Later Afte...

Adizah Eghan noticed an interesting trend on social media: everyone seemed to be living it up in Tulum, Mexico. Some were flocking there to have a good time, while others were seeking something much deeper: they wanted to escape racism and seek refuge with like-minded people. Adizah traveled to Mexico to experience the vibes of Tulum for herself — and also dig into why Black people are seeking ref...

An Iranian American professor is on a date in the hills outside Tehran. She hears the thunder of galloping, and what comes over the crest will ignite an unbridled passion in her -  defining her future and explaining her past. Plus, an urban legend about a chicken that turns out to be true. This is our final week of the Tooth & Claw  series -- stay tuned next month for our collection of love st...

What if your sister -- the one your parents raised you with, the one that shared your toys -- what if she didn’t just have different hair, or a slightly different nose, but was an entirely different species altogether? Hannah Friedman experiences the Law of the Jungle firsthand in the (dis)comfort of her family home.  STORIES Monkey Sister A huge thank you to Hannah Friedman and her parents Alison...

A dolphin named Dr. Spock is in danger and NBA star Clifford Ray is the only man big enough to lend a hand. Plus, torrential rain is ripping through the Appalachians and the people of the mountain are all looking for Plan B. STORIES Just Another Day for Big Clifford Ray A dolphin named Dr. Spock is in danger and NBA star Clifford Ray is the only man big enough to lend a hand. A huge thank you to C...

Can the dreaded Alligator Death Roll actually save your life? One man risks life and limb in the Florida swamplands. Thank you, Eric Merda, for sharing his story with us! Eric has been sharing his experience on stage doing stand-up comedy and also as a motivational speaker. Check him out on Instagram ! Produced by Bo Walsh, edited by Anna Sussman, original score by Nick Marks. Season 17 - Episode...

A severed head turns up in a small rural town. While police investigate this as a crime, they look at disturbed graves, search for missing people — suspect a killer. But the forensic artist on the case has a very different theory for how the head ended up in the woods. This story contains references to forensic material, sensitive listeners please be advised. Thank you to Michelle Vitali & Mik...

Scott Lechner is the king of Christmas trees in Manhattan, nicknamed the “Pontiff of Soho.” But when his business runs afoul of the mob, he gets an offer that he can’t refuse. And a covert operative is assigned to extract a high-level target from Russia, and it’s about to ruin his holiday plans. STORIES The Christmas Tree Mafia Scott Lechner is the king of Christmas trees in Manhattan, nicknamed t...

German and his family are stuck behind the walls of a rusty old pencil factory in the jungle. When a Youtuber stumbles onto the scene with a camera, he may be their only hope. Thank you, to German, Eva, and Sasha. Thanks also to Julia Neusner. You can see more of Caya’s documentaries about tech and society on his Youtube channel “ Slide Bean .” Check out this story featured on Today Explained ! Th...

It’s the dawn of hip-hop and 15-year-old Roxanne Shanté is the best battle rapper in Queensbridge NYC. She spits out a hit record in the time it takes for her laundry to dry, for real. She’s bold, controversial and everyone wants to take her down at the “MC Battle for World Supremacy.” This story contains explicit language, sensitive listeners please be advised. A giant thank you to the now Grammy...

A woman wakes up in a hospital bed with no idea why she’s there. Her perception of reality is questionable. A doctor discovers a possible source for her delusions and what follows is her journey to recovery and back to herself.  Thank you to Susannah Cahalan for sharing your story with us! Susannah tells the full tale of her descent into madness and rise out of it in her international bestselling...

A teenage hacker inspired by “Mr. Robot” takes on his principal, teachers, and the Board of Education. And a night-shift doctor shares a story of life after death.  STORIES Code Yellow A teenage hacker inspired by “Mr. Robot” takes on his principal, teachers, and the Board of Education. This story contains strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised.  This piece was adapted from the pod...

On the frozen tundra, a polar bear guide wakes up to a loud THUMP on the side of his ice buggy. It’s his 1,000 pound buddy, Dancer. And he wants a cup of coffee. Plus, Don Reed transports himself to 1970. Not So Tiny Dancer On the frozen tundra, a polar bear guide wakes up to a loud THUMP on the side of his ice buggy. It’s his 1,000 pound buddy, Dancer. And he wants a cup of coffee. Thank you, Den...

Jen Angel is a beloved cupcake baker whose life was taken in a smash and grab gone wrong. Now a young man accused of the crime has his future hanging in the balance. Cries for justice, retribution and reason all collide as everyone tries to figure out “What Would Jen Do?” This episode contains graphic imagery and strong language. Please take care while listening. Thank you to Ocean, Ashanthe, Emil...

A fisherman down on his luck finds gold at the bottom of the sea. It’s only after his treasure hunt is underway that he discovers what is truly valuable deep down. BIG thanks to Joe Pennisi for sharing your story with Snap. This story would not have been possible if not for the amazing, on-the-ground reporting work of Tara Duggan, Jason Fagone, and Santiago Mejia who first told this incredible sto...

When a young man is told he is going deaf, he sets out on a challenge to memorize the songs that defined his life. He had no idea that those songs would come back to him in the most unexpected way. And a musical savant shares the inner workings of his amazing gift.  STORIES  The Soundtrack of Silence  When a young man is told is he going deaf, he sets out on a challenge to memorize the songs that...

In a boarding house in Chicago, a young girl puts her questions to the universe and the answers are returned in coded messages from the other side. And a boy lost in the forest at the foothills of the Himalayas, sees a light in the distance… but it isn’t there to guide him. This story comes to us from our evil-twin, Spooked ! You can listen to Spooked on any podcast platform, episodes drop weekly....

A man visits prominent members of the Blackfeet Traditional Medicine community. After witnessing an unexplainable force, he learns just how important it is to practice good medicine. And a girl growing up in Mumbai knows money doesn’t grow on trees. But when times get tough, her family house begins to reveal its secrets. This story comes to us from our evil-twin, Spooked ! You can listen to Spooke...

A young man gets “rollers” — the gift of a lifetime from a mysterious friend. Plus, an epic mixup at the funeral home is about to bring the house down. STORIES  The Birds - LIVE A young man gets “rollers” — the gift of a lifetime from a mysterious friend. This story was told at the Orpheum Theatre at Spooked LIVE in 2023. Join us at our shows next week in Los Angeles and Oakland ! Get your tix. Cr...

A woman in Texas takes animal rehabilitation to new heights when she brings over a thousand bats back from the dead in her own home. And a Snap producer reveals he owes a lot to one single hairy flying mammal.  STORIES Batwoman A woman in Texas takes animal rehabilitation to new heights when she brings over a thousand bats back from the dead in her own home. Thank you, Mary Warwick, for sharing yo...

DeAndre D’Angelo, a scam artist with a talent for forged documents and a taste for red sports cars finds the perfect persona to escape his checkered past. He's the Camaro driving, show tune singing, high school student who is actually 31 years old. What if you could relive your youth and do it all over again the right way? Thank you, Michael Backman, for sharing your story with Snap! Check out Mic...

A team of high school students investigate a new hire at their school. What they discover leads them towards an all out battle for the truth.  Extra special thanks to Emily Smith and her team of sleuthers! Produced by Shaina Shealy, edited by Nancy Lopez, original score Nick Marks.  Season 16 - Episode 46 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices